A COVID variant called "Cicada" is on the rise. Here's what to know.

"Cicada" is trending, but not due to the fact that it's the play for the noisy insects to appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are some monitoring a COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, which is nicknamed "Cicada."

Where is it?

BA.3.2 was archetypal identified successful November 2024 and has since dispersed to astatine slightest 23 countries. It's besides been detected successful astatine slightest 25 states successful the U.S. arsenic of February, according to the CDC. 

But portion the variant is spreading here, it's not the ascendant strain. 

"Whether it volition propulsion itself to the beforehand of the enactment remains to beryllium seen," Dr. William Schaffner, a prof of infectious diseases astatine Vanderbilt University, told CBS News  "We'll person to hold and see." 

What is it?

The variant is simply a subordinate of the Omicron household and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations. A recent study successful the diary Lancet recovered the existent COVID-19 vaccine is little effectual against BA.3.2 compared to the existent ascendant strains, though it does supply immoderate protection. 

"These are inactive aboriginal days, " Schaffner said. "But astatine the infinitesimal the decision seems to beryllium determination is this capableness for this caller variant to evade immoderate of the protections we person each acquired implicit the years."

Is it much severe?

Currently the CDC is not reporting a nationwide summation successful terrible illness from COVID-19. Case rates, exigency visits and hospitalizations are trending downward. But authorities rates tin vary. Massachusetts and Florida are estimated arsenic apt having an summation successful cases. 

"We haven't seen grounds of this variant causing much terrible illness oregon an summation successful hospitalizations elsewhere," according to CBS News aesculapian contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for nationalist wellness astatine KFF Health News. 

What to cognize astir symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 see fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore pharynx and congestion. 

The CDC says it's important to get the existent COVID vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, person ne'er received a COVID vaccine oregon are astatine precocious hazard for terrible unwellness from COVID. The high-risk radical includes radical younger than property 65 with a chronic aesculapian information similar bosom disease, lung illness oregon diabetes, arsenic good arsenic those who are immunocompromised. 

"Get a dose of the vaccine towards the extremity of May, opening of June successful bid to supply immoderate extortion against the summertime increase," Schaffner advised. "We expect that volition hap due to the fact that that's what's happened in the past."

Edited by Paula Cohen

In:

• COVID-19
• Omicron Variant